STRASBOURG, 5 November 2025 – Malta’s Minister for Justice and Reform of the Construction Sector, Hon. Jonathan Attard, addressed the opening session of the 2025 World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg. In his address, the Minister described democracy as a “shared human endeavour”, cautioning against reducing it to institutions and procedures alone. While emphasising the importance of dialogue and civic participation, he stressed that effective leadership must also be defined by the ability to act decisively. Democracy, he noted, thrives when leaders translate dialogue into action, pairing empathy with conviction and humility with courage.
Minister Attard urged policymakers to move beyond consultation and pursue reforms that deliver tangible and lasting change. He pointed to Malta’s recent democratic reforms as an example of such renewal, highlighting strengthened judicial independence, revised appointment and disciplinary procedures, and enhanced autonomy for the Attorney General and the State Advocate.
He also reaffirmed Malta’s commitment to media freedom, noting the conclusion of a national consultation on media reform and the country’s position as the first EU member state to adopt the Anti-SLAPP Directive. Beyond institutional reforms, he emphasised the importance of civic education and digital literacy—particularly among young people—as key tools in addressing disinformation and polarisation.
He concluded by reiterating Malta’s commitment to the Council of Europe’s core values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as well as its support for the New Democratic Pact for Europe.
The annual forum, organised by the Council of Europe, brings together European leaders, policymakers and civil society representatives to examine the challenges facing democratic governance. This year’s theme, “Democracy at Risk: How Can We Revive It?”, framed a wide-ranging debate on the future of democratic systems.